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Denver Public Schools’ crippled response to parent asserting their rights

The Supreme Court has long recognized the right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children.

For schools that means recognizing the right of parents to home-school their children, opt them out of sex ed, R-rated aerial or other objectionable material. That also means parents can opt their children out of tests that are used to fire teachers, close schools and turn others over to private entities.

This is still largely lost on the giant administration of Denver Public Schools, where testing spreads like out of control cancer. They even employ a woman as a testing enforcer— Kelly Gilmore.

Here’s what happens when one father asserts his rights:

To the father…

Thank you for speaking with me this evening regarding your boys and the TCAP test. I have attached a letter from Joyce Zurkowski, Executive Director of the Assessment Unit of the Colorado Department of Education, outlining the law regarding the state tests. I have also included an email below from Kelly Gilmore, Assessment Coordinator for Denver Public Schools regarding Morey’s responsibility to test your children. I hope you will read these to understand why I cannot honor your request to have your sons opt out of the testing.

If you would like to continue the conversation, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

All,

It is STATE LAW that every student MUST take the TCAP. There are no guidelines for parental refusal. There is no paperwork that circumvents state law. If the student is in class on testing day, it is the requirement and responsibility of the school to test that child. Attached is Joyce Zurkowski’s letter explaining that there is NO OPT OUT system.

Additionally, as you know this unfortunately reflects as a “zero” for the school and school district in the accountability system.

If parents have questions about the state law for TCAP testing, please refer them to the Colorado Department of Education.